In a recent podcast appearance, UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell shared his unconventional views on Earth’s rotation with entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David. The discussion took an unexpected turn when Mitchell presented his argument against the widely accepted scientific understanding of Earth’s movement.
Mitchell began by using a racetrack analogy to illustrate his point. He asked Bet-David who would win a race if two equally fast runners competed on the inside and outside lanes of a circular track. When Bet-David correctly answered that the inside runner would win, Mitchell used this as a springboard for his main argument.
The UFC star then applied this concept to a helicopter hovering at 20,000 feet for four hours. According to Mitchell, if the Earth were spinning, the helicopter would need to travel faster than the Earth’s rotation speed to land in the same spot it took off from. He argued that since helicopters can land in the same location after hovering, it proves the Earth is not moving.
“Because now the earth would be not attached to that helicopter and so it’s in a different type of rotation. It has to cover more distance to land in the same spot,” Mitchell explained.
Mitchell concluded his argument by referencing the Bible, stating, “Because the earth don’t move just like the Bible says. Wake up Christians. Have discernment.”
The flat Earth movement has attracted various high-profile figures, notably in combat sports, who share a range of unconventional views on Earth’s shape despite substantial scientific evidence against the theory. UFC commentator Joe Rogan has been vocal in his skepticism, often challenging friend Eddie Bravo’s flat Earth beliefs on his podcast. Others in the MMA world, like Kron Gracie and Bryce Mitchell, have publicly shared their convictions, attributing them to personal experiences or anecdotal “proofs.” As an ultimate test, a trip to Antarctica called “The Final Experiment” is set to observe 24-hour daylight, a phenomenon that contradicts flat Earth models. Despite initial enthusiasm, many flat Earth proponents are now hesitant to participate, suggesting distrust in the organizers or claiming they don’t need further proof. Past experiments, like National Geographic’s Salton Sea test, have shown that flat Earth believers often reject clear evidence in favor of reinforcing their beliefs. The upcoming expedition may present a critical moment, though history suggests that even undeniable proof might not be enough to alter firmly held views.
